NEW DELHI: Defense Minister Sharad Pawar, who has emerged as a troubleshooter for the Prime Minister in the wake of the Ayodhya demolition, has admitted that “both Hindus and Muslims are at the moment feeling alienated” from the Government.
Pawar said in an exclusive interview:” I am afraid the situation is not normal, whether we like it or not, it looks like the population is divided on a religious basis. The national agenda has become mandir, masjid, minority, majority. Unless we change it and instead bring issues like economic reforms and development to the forefront. I don’t think we can go in the proper direction.” However, the expressed confidence that the position will change soon,” Pawar also conceded that the credibility of the Government had been damaged by the Ayodhya events, but explained that “it affected us because initially we were following a particular approach which respected both the State and the Center and people’s representatives, irrespective of the political party to which they belong.” He added that “such an approach was taken deliberately, consciously, but unfortunately in Uttar Pradesh, the then ruling party and leadership acted and behaved against the national interest.”
Asked if his party was divided on the heading of the December 6 events Pawar asserted that the “party’s mood is to keep together, If we do not combine totally around the Prime Minister, I don’t think we are sincere to the country and the Congress. But disagreeing isa democratic right Party men express frank views but there is ultimately collective thinking, which is unity.” Referring to the Congress MPs, Pawar said, “Of course, they were very unhappy with what happened ‘on December 6. [twas but natural. ‘They have to be sensitive because ultimately they know the ground level situation. So we had to guide them properly enthuse them, help them.” About the Prime Minister’s seeming dependence on him rather than Home Minister SB Chavan in dealing with the Ayodhya aftermath, Pawar said, “The Home Minister was present when decisions were made. In these kind of issues you have to work collectively. We were doing things on the direction of the PM and Home Minister. Suppose [am A and A is an important factor and might be helpful in the overall cause then I should contribute. The PM depended on all my colleagues, including me.”
Pawar also said that programs had been outlined to meet, the challenge of the BJP. We have to now convince people, the majority sections also, what exactly these parties are talking and doing in the name of Ram. They would like the politics of the country to be controlled by the higher strata of society, Ultimately, that section which is in a substantial majority will not get equal treatment. For instance, when in some temple, a priest from the weaker section was appointed by the Bihar Government, immediately others started opposing it. Why? They think it is their monopoly. That monopoly was affected sub satanically so they have used this Ram card. It might succeed temporarily but if we start a mass education movement, we will be able to tell the truth Lo the masses.”
The minister agreed that for the Congress, “it is difficult times in the North,” He continued, “But! Don’t think the situation is any worse than the last election. The Congress got 18 to 20% of the vote, the lowest in many years. The same’ rough weather exists today.”
About facing elections in the four States where BJP Governments were dismissed, he said, “My own impression is that Congressmen will combine and work together. This is the difference between the Congress and other parties. When the Congressman realizes it is the question of his survival, of his existence, he is more pragmatic.”
About the continuing violence in Bombay, the minister said he was very upset “Not a single incident occurred during either the Mandal agitation or Advani’s Rath Yatra. I think what happened now was that a number of youngsters, especially of the Muslim community, saw BBC and CNN and were angered. And the anger was reflected at the establishment, as it always happens. They must have attacked public property, and the police, in trying to save the public property, might have acted.” On his own ambitions to become PM, he said, “I don’t think about it in the present situation, I don’t know what is in store tomorrow, so one should not think about it. The only thing is that one should behave properly without expecting anything, because that ultimately creates problems.”
Article extracted from this publication >> January 22, 1993
